Fuel primer bulb

[drdoss]

New to me 1998 Triton with 115hp Mercury outboard. Don't know all of its hx, but fairly new bulb and drained old gas out of tank and refilled. Problem is primer bulb must be squeezed every time I crank the motor while fishing. Also, when engine is cold the engine will fire up and seems like when all of the available gas in the carbeurator is used it dies and the bulb must be pumped again. First I am going to replace the bulb, but does this sound like a fuel pump or filter problem? I don't see any obvious leaks in the gas line. BTW, has 3/8 inch line coming from tank to bulb and smaller line ( maybe 5/16) going from bulb to motor.

 

[flyingscott]

Explain your full cold start procedure I believe that is going to be your problem. The fuel line should be 3/8 ID from the tank to the motor.

 

[drdoss]

My cold start procedure would be to squeeze the fuel primer bulb holding it in the vertical position and squeezing 3 o;r 4 times until it gets firm. I turn the key to the right and push it in for about 6 seconds and and let it go and then turn the key to the right to try to start the motor. It fires up and then after a few seconds dies and wont fire up again until the bulb is pumped again. I sometimes put it in neutral and give it a little gas.

 

[flyingscott]

You are doing everything right you don't need to hold primer vertically just pump it until it is hard. The one thing you are not doing is engaging the high idle for warming the motor up. In the middle of your controller is a square button push that in and push the throttle lever forward until you feel resistance then start the motor. You want the motor to idle at about 1500 rpm for a minute or two. That is there for starting the motor when it's cold, if you don't use it the motor will be hard to start. You may also have to push the key in a couple times to keep it running.You shouldn't have to pump the primer after the first start of the day unless the motor has been tipped up. But you will have to use the cold start procedure through the day.

 

[drdoss]

I am engaging the high idle, but didn't describe it that way. That is what I am doing when I said that I put it in neutral and give it a little gas. Still the problem is having to squeeze several times to start it and having to squeeze throurghout the day to start it. the fuel pressure is not staying high enough for some reason.

 

[flyingscott]

You said you do it sometimes I am saying you need to do it all the time. The fuel pressure will not stay high it's normal, when you pump it you pressurize the line. After it starts the fuel pump takes over and is pulling from the tank and the ball goes soft when it is running not a problem.
If the ball is being sucked flat that's a problem. When it sits for a while you may need to pump the ball but usually just using the choke and the fast idle lever will start it unless you have something else going on.Everything you describe is pretty normal.

 

[drdoss]

Thanks for your help